In June 2005, the Ramacrisna Institute created the Youth Orchestra with the aim of bringing the beauty of classical music to the reality of children and young people in situations of personal and social risk, living in the community of Vianópolis, in Betim, aged between 12 and 24 years.
The project includes classes for 40 musicians on musical theory and practice, which include string, wind and percussion instruments. Renowned teachers from the Barros family – Alexandre (wind), Elias (violin) – are the ones who, together with Maestro Eliseu, promote the musical development of talented musicians.
Throughout its 18 years of training, the Ramacrisna Philharmonic Orchestra has performed at major cultural venues in the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte, including the CCBB, Bradesco Theater, Cine Theatro Brasil Vallourec, Palácio das Artes, Natural Sciences Museum at PUC, and many others. Its diverse and high-quality artistic repertoire has attracted collaborations with renowned artists, such as the Italian tenors Claudio Mattioli and Massimiliano Barbolini, the lyric tenor Felipe Peletta, Saulo Laranjeira, Trio Amaranto, DoContra, the band Tianastacia, among others.
Barros, graduated in violin from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and graduated in Neurosciences and Psychoanalysis Applied to Education from Faculdade São Camilo, has played with the Mercosul Youth Orchestras and the World Orchestra of Japan, at the Pacific Music Festival, in 2000 .
The conductor is a soloist and has conducted concerts with Sesiminas-Musicoop, UFMG Symphony, and Cuiabá Symphony Orchestra. He has worked with popular music and as an arranger, played with major artists from Minas Gerais and other states, and recorded with the band Skank, Lô Borges, and Paula Fernandes. Currently, Barros is a guest violinist for the UFMG Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestra of Minas Gerais, as well as the conductor and coordinator of the Sesc-MG Youth Orchestra.
The Orchestra in the Media
july 05, 2024 – Estado de Minas – Orquestra se apresenta no Festival Movimenta Arte e Cultura
June 25, 2024 – BH Eventos – Orquestra se apresenta no Palácio das Artes em “As Cores do Clube da Esquina”
May 31, 2020 – Jornal O Tempo Online – Pandemia: Jovens da zona rural de Betim continuam seus estudos musicais virtualmente
June 19, 2020 – Super Rádio (Programa Patrulha Municipal)– Entrevista Maestro Eliseu Barros (start at 13h05)
June 20, 2020 – TV Globo “MG1” – Orquestra Betim ensaia e mantém membros com vídeo e aulas virtuais
June 11, 2020 – TV Globo “É de Casa” – Orquestra se apresenta em comunidade
Cultural Center
The Cultural Center has a built area of 750 m², consisting of an auditorium with 200 seats, two dressing rooms with restrooms, a projection room, a rehearsal room, an instrument storage room, an administration office, gardens, and a hall.
In 2013, through a project by the State Culture Fund developed in partnership with the State Department of Culture, it became a sustainable building with a mineral roof, LED lighting, and walls made from recycled materials that contribute to its excellent acoustics. The Cultural Center, which benefits the entire community, is used for concerts, lectures, graduations, film screenings, and business meetings.
In 2019, with resources from the State Culture Fund, we were able to restructure the space, climatize it, and replace its 200 chairs, providing greater comfort for everyone.
